System and method of displaying a video stream

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is generally directed to a video stream processing system and to a system and method of displaying a video stream. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a video stream to be displayed on a display device. During a first time period, a low resolution version of the video stream is displayed while a full resolution version of the video stream is being recovered. The method further includes synchronizing the low resolution version of the video stream with the full resolution version of the video stream, and, during a second time period after the first time period, switching between display of the low resolution version of the video stream to display of the full resolution version of the video stream.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of, and claims priorityfrom, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/005,496, filed Dec. 6, 2004, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a system and method of displaying avideo stream.

BACKGROUND

In a variety of situations in which television content is transmitteddigitally, there can be a significant delay that occurs when switchingfrom one source of video to another. Typically, the delay occurs whilechanging a television channel, but the delay also may occur whenstarting a new video stream in a number of situations. The delay dependson the specific situation, such as the type of video compression, thenetwork bandwidth, and the decompression hardware. Further, the delaycan occur when a new network stream is initiated and the delay can alsooccur when accessing video that is stored locally at Digital VideoRecorder (DVR), a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), or other local videostorage device. Customers and users find this delay disconcerting.Moreover, the delay is of particular concern since analog televisions donot exhibit this type of delay.

Certain proposed solutions to the delay may be defined to fall into twoclasses. The simplest approach is to provide access to videos through auser interface that effectively hides the delay. This is the approachused by a variety of products in which the customer is effectivelyencouraged to navigate trough an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) andavoid directly switching channels. This method does not really solve theproblem; it simply encourages the user to behave in a manner that causesthe delay to be less noticeable. The second approach is to overpower thedelay by bursting a very large amount of video data in a short amount oftime. This technique requires the transmission of up to 10 times thenormal amount of data in order to provide sufficient video data to beginrendering the video in a short amount of time after a channel is changed(e.g. less than 100 msec).

Both of these approaches attempt to address the problem of video delays,but the first requires customers' to change their behavior and thesecond places significant and expensive requirements on the localnetwork and the rendering device.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method ofdisplaying a video stream.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video processing system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart that illustrates a first embodiment of a methodof displaying a video stream;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a second embodiment of a methodof displaying a video stream; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart that illustrates a third embodiment of a methodof displaying a video stream.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is generally directed to a video streamprocessing system and to a method of displaying a video stream. In aparticular embodiment, the method includes receiving a video stream tobe displayed on a display device. During a first time period, a lowresolution version of the video stream is displayed while a fullresolution version of the video stream is being recovered. The methodfurther includes synchronizing the low resolution version of the videostream with the full resolution version of the video stream, and, duringa second time period after the first time period, switching from displayof the low resolution version of the video stream to display of the fullresolution version of the video stream.

In another particular embodiment, a method of displaying a video streamincludes detecting a channel change and receiving a video stream to bedisplayed on a display device. The method further includes, during afirst time period, displaying a still image associated with the videostream while recovering the video stream. The method includes switchingfrom display of the still image to display of the video stream as a fullmotion video display.

In a particular embodiment, the video stream processing system includesa user interface to detect a channel change request; a video detectionmodule responsive to the user interface, and a video generation moduleresponsive to the video detection module. The video detection module isto receive a video stream to be displayed on a display device. The videogeneration module is to communicate to the display device a firstversion of the video stream while the video detection module recovers asecond version of the video stream. The first version of the videostream has a lower video display quality than the second version of thevideo stream. The video generation module includes synchronization logicto synchronize the first version of the video stream with the secondversion of the video stream, and the video generation module switchesbetween communicating the first version of the video stream tocommunicate the second version of the video stream to the displaydevice.

Referring to FIG. 1, a video stream processing system is illustrated andis designated 100. The video stream processing system 100 includes avideo processing system 102 coupled via a communication link 120 to avideo display device 130, such as a television. An example of anappropriate communication link is a coaxial cable. The video processingsystem 102 includes a video input 110 and includes a remote controlinterface 108. The remote control interface 108 receives signals, suchas infrared signals 114, from a remote control device 112. The videoprocessing system 102 further includes a video stream detection module106 and a video generation module 104. The video stream detection module106 receives the video input 110 and is responsive to signals receivedat the remote control interface 108.

The video stream detection module 106 forwards detected and processedvideo streams to the video generation module 104. The video generationmodule 104 provides a video signal to be communicated over the coaxialcable 120 for display at the video display device 130.

In a particular embodiment, the remote control device 112 provides achannel request signal to request a channel change. The channel requestsignal may be communicated using the infrared or other wirelesscommunication signal 114 to the remote control interface 108. The remotecontrol interface 108 then communicates the received channel changerequest to the video stream detection module 106. The video streamdetection module 106, in turn, tunes to the requested channel within thevideo input 110. Further, the video stream detection module 106 providesinstructions and processed signals to the video generation module 104.Then, the video generation module provides a video image signal thatcorresponds to the newly selected channel.

Referring to FIG. 2, a particular embodiment of a method of displaying avideo stream is illustrated. The method includes detecting a channelchange request, at 202. The method further includes receiving a videostream to be displayed on a display device, at 204. Further, the methodincludes displaying a low resolution version of the video stream on adisplay device during a first time period while recovering a fullresolution version of the video stream, as shown at 206. Typically, thefirst time period is in the range of 1-3 seconds, based on the delay. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the method further includes the step ofsynchronizing the low resolution version of the video stream with thefull resolution version of the video stream, as shown at 208. During asecond time period, at 210, the method includes switching between thedisplay of the low resolution version of the video stream to display ofthe full resolution version of the video stream. The second time periodoccurs after the first time period. Optionally, the method includestemporarily displaying a blurred image on the display device whileswitching between the low resolution version of the video stream to thefull resolution version of the video stream, as shown at 212.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of a method of displaying avideo stream is illustrated. The method includes detecting a channelchange request, at 302, and receiving a video stream to be displayed ona display device, at 304. The method further includes, during a firsttime period, displaying a first version of the video stream on a displaydevice while recovering a second version of the video stream, at 306.Typically, the first time period is in the range of 1-3 seconds based onthe delay. In a particular exemplary embodiment, the video generationmodule 104 provides a low resolution version of the video stream of thenewly selected channel while the video stream detection module 106 isprocessing the video stream to recover a full resolution version.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, an audio signal is provided tothe display during the first time period and the audio signal isprovided with full resolution such that a video display device userhears full audio while the first version of the video stream is beingdisplayed. In a particular embodiment, the first version of the videostream has a lower video display quality than the second version of thevideo stream. For example, the first version of the video stream mayhave a reduced color set when compared to the second version of thevideo stream. As another example, the first version may have a reducedspectral frequency or other visual parameter that is degraded whencompared to the second version of the video stream. Thus, the firstversion of the video stream consumes less bandwidth and may be displayedon the display device more quickly in response to the channel changerequest.

The method further includes synchronizing the first version of the videostream with the second version of the video stream, as shown at 308.During a second time period after the first time period, the methodincludes switching between the display of the first version of the videostream to the display of the second version of the video stream, asshown at 310. Optionally, during a third time period, the methodincludes displaying a third version of the video stream where the thirdversion has a higher video display quality than the second version ofthe video stream. In a particular example, the first, second, and thirdversions of the video stream together comprise a portion of aprogressive video stream. The progressive video stream initiallypresents a low quality image and then, presents added resolution andhigher quality images over a sequence of successive time periods.

Referring to FIG. 4, another exemplary embodiment of a method ofdisplaying a video stream is illustrated. The method includes detectinga channel change, at 402, and receiving a video stream to be displayedon the display device, at 404. During a first time period, a still imageis displayed, as shown at 406. The still image is associated with thevideo stream. The still image is displayed while recovering the fullmotion video stream after the request for the channel change. During asecond time period after the first time period, the method includesswitching between display of the still image to display of the videostream as a full motion video, as shown at 408. In a particularillustrative embodiment, an audio signal is provided to the displayduring the first time period and the audio signal is provided with fullresolution such that the video display device user hears full audiowhile the still image is being displayed. In another embodiment, thestill image may comprise a title screen associated with the video streamor may include a frame derived from the video stream. The title screenmay include information regarding the video stream such as the title ofan episode, the title of a series, or the title of a movie that is to bedisplayed on the screen.

While particular illustrative methods of displaying a video stream havebeen described, it should be understood that many alternate methods mayalso be used with the system illustrated in FIG. 1. In a particularillustrative embodiment, the first period of time when a low resolutionvideo stream is displayed may be less than three seconds. In anotherembodiment, a full resolution audio signal is provided to the displaydevice during the first period of time while displaying the lowresolution version of the video stream, such as when displaying a stillimage or a degraded or reduced bandwidth type video stream asillustrated. In a particular exemplary embodiment, the first time periodin which a low resolution version of a video stream is displayed occurswithin 100 milliseconds after detecting a channel change request, suchas a channel change request initiated by a user of the remote controldevice 112 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, a user surfing through channels of adisplay device may quickly determine the particular content ofindividual channels.

Previous methods of handling channel change requests for digital videohave produced significant delays. Ignoring such delays can negativelyimpact a customer perception of service quality. Since this is asignificant and negative departure from previous customer experienceswith analog television signals, such delays are undesirable. The methodsdescribed provide a user experience with reduced delay, and allows theuser to quickly determine desirability of continuing to watch aparticular channel. Thus, the disclosed method and system offers animproved video user experience.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

1. A method of displaying a video stream, the method comprising:receiving a video stream to be displayed on a display device; during afirst time period, displaying a low resolution version of the videostream while recovering a full resolution version of the video stream;synchronizing the low resolution version of the video stream with thefull resolution version of the video stream; and during a second timeperiod after the first time period, switching from display of the lowresolution version of the video stream to display of the full resolutionversion of the video stream.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thedisplay device is a television.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst period is less than three seconds.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein a full resolution audio signal is provided to the display deviceduring the first time period while displaying the low resolution versionof the video stream.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a video qualityof the full resolution version of the video stream is higher than avideo quality of the low resolution version of the video stream.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising temporarily displaying a blurredimage while switching from the low resolution version of the videostream to the full resolution version of the video stream.
 7. The methodof claim 1, further comprising detecting a channel change request,wherein the first time period begins within one hundred millisecondsafter detecting the channel change request.
 8. A method of displaying avideo stream, the method comprising: detecting a channel change;receiving a video stream to be displayed on a display device; during afirst time period, displaying a still image associated with the videostream while recovering the video stream; and switching from display ofthe still image to display of the video stream as a full motion videodisplay.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein an audio signal is providedto the display device during the first time period.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the still image comprises a title screen.
 11. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the still image comprises a frame from thevideo stream.
 12. A video stream processing system comprising: a userinterface responsive to a channel change request; a video detectionmodule responsive to the user interface, the video detection module toreceive a video stream to be displayed on a display device; and adisplay generation module responsive to the video detection module andcoupled to the display device, the display generation module to:generate a still image associated with the video stream during a firstpredetermined time period; and generate a full resolution version of thevideo stream to be displayed as a full motion video on the displaydevice after a second predetermined time period.
 13. The video streamprocessing system of claim 12, wherein during the first predeterminedtime period the video detection module is recovering the full resolutionversion of the video stream.
 14. The video stream processing system ofclaim 12, wherein the first predetermined time period and the secondpredetermined time period are substantially the same.
 15. The videostream processing system of claim 12, wherein the system is furtherconfigured to provide a first audio signal during the firstpredetermined time period.
 16. The video stream processing system ofclaim 15, wherein the first audio signal is provided with fullresolution.
 17. The video stream processing system of claim 12, whereinthe still image comprises a frame from the video stream.
 18. The videostream processing system of claim 12, wherein the still image comprisesa title screen.
 19. The video stream processing system of claim 18,wherein the title screen includes information regarding the videostream.
 20. The video stream processing system of claim 19, wherein theinformation includes one of a title of an episode, a title of a series,and a title of a movie to be displayed on the display device.